SPRINGFIELD – Spouses of servicemen and women could be able to claim a property tax credit thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) that passed the Illinois State Senate.

The legislation, Senate Bill 87, would extend the Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption to all spouses of military members who would have otherwise been eligible for the credit. It also would expand it to spouses of veterans who was killed in the line of duty and their death was determined to be service-related.

“Spouses of military members make significant sacrifices when their husband or wife serve in our armed services. Those sacrifices should be honored,” Link said. “This is just one small thing we can do as a state to respect that sacrifice.”

SPRINGFIELD – People struggling with multiple sclerosis could have an opportunity to ask for an exception to treatment limitations due to legislation passed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills).

“Restricting treatment for the more than 20,000 Illinois residents living with multiple sclerosis is atrocious,” Link said. “These restrictions mean that people diagnosed with MS are not allowed to get the medically recommended treatment they need.”

Senate Bill 193 would require that insurance companies offer an exceptions process for patients with multiple sclerosis to request an exception to a treatment limitation. It would also require that the insurance company would have 72 hours to accept or deny the exception request. Limitations include being subject to waiting periods, cost sharing limits and other limits.

“By taking this step, insurance companies now have to justify to people why they are denying their medically necessary treatment,” Link said. “This is a small step in the long fight to push for a compassionate Illinois that helps people manage their symptoms appropriately.”

Currently, insurance companies can limit the number of physical therapy session covered even if more sessions are deemed medically necessary.

SPRINGFIELD – Lake County voters are one step closer to being able to elect their county board chairman directly thanks to a measure that passed the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 669, sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills), would require a referendum be held in 2018 to let the voters decide if they want to directly elect the county board chairman. If the measure passes, the first election for chairman would be in 2020.

“This is about giving the voters the opportunity to hold their county government accountable,” Link said. “The voters should have the right to decide who runs the day-to-day operations of the county services they pay for.”

Currently, the elected board members elect the county board chairman among themselves with very little input from the public.

“Every county surrounding Lake County does this because it is good government,” Link said. “We are way overdue in letting the voters decide who runs their government.”

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday, Illinois celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passage of the “Smoke Free Illinois” legislation.

Since the passage of Smoke Free Illinois, there has been a nearly 20.5 percent decrease in hospitalization of various diseases related to smoking.

“Smoke-Free Illinois was a major milestone in our efforts to make Illinois a better place to live,” State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said. “But even with this progress, we cannot rest on our laurels. The next step to help Illinoisans live longer, healthier lives is to keep kids from ever becoming addicted to tobacco by raising the minimum age of sale to 21 years old.”

Link passed a resolution on Wednesday declaring March 29, 2017, as “Smoke Free Illinois Day.” The day recognizes the improved health benefits by Illinois going smoke-free 10 years ago.

“Though Illinois has been smoke free for more than 10 years, the state still faces many issues related to smoking,” Link said. “I hope today shows that we can achieve great things to better the health of all Illinoisans and that we need to continue the push towards a healthier Illinois.”